Red Panda

The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It prefers steep slopes with dense bamboo cover close to water sources. It lives in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests as well as coniferous forests. It is mostly arboreal and solitary. In addition to fruits and blooms, it primarily eats bamboo shoots and leaves. Poaching, habitat loss through deforestation, and habitat fragmentation all pose threats to it. Since 2015, the IUCN Red List has classified the species as Endangered. In every country in the world, it is protected.

The belly and legs of the red panda are black, and its coat is primarily red or orange-brown. The bushy tail has red and buff ring patterns, a dark brown tip, and predominantly white borders on the nose, cheeks, brows, and inner ear margins. In a setting with crimson moss and white trees covered in lichen, the coloration seems to act as camouflage. Longer and rougher guard hairs contrast with fluffier, shorter guard hairs in the dense undercoat. The guard hairs on the back are round in cross-section and range in length from 47 to 56 mm. Around the mouth, lower jaw, and chin, it has whiskers that are moderately lengthy. The animal can walk in snow thanks to the fur on the soles of its paws.